Tile flooring.



Np. 841,998. 7 PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

Y L. W; MULFORD. TILE FLOORING. ABPLIOATION FILED M120, 1906.

nu I! 'Nrrnn s'rA'rEs PATENT op nion- TILE FLOORING.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1907.

Application filed February 20, 1906- Serial No. 302.003-

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOGAN WILLARD MUL- FORD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Tile Flooring, of whichthefollowing is a specification.

My present invention relates to tiles for covering floors ,walls, orother similar places, and provides a tread which may be employed forsurfaces exposed to wear, such as floors, steps, landings, and similarplaces.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide the tiles with interlockingtongues and recesses, in which the tongues which form a portion of thetile are seated, or to provide recesses in the sides of the tiles inwhich keyblocks are located to lock the different parts in place. It hasalso been proposed to form blocks at the corners of the tiles andstaggering the joints of the adjoining rows and also. to construct thetiles so that they overlap as well as interlock. It has further beenproposed to construct the tile flooring of a metallic base havingportions thereof deflected upwardly and the facing material socuredthereto, and in some cases a metallic base-plate has been employed onwhich the facing compound or other material is placed and to which it issecured, said base-plate having projections and recesses adapted tointerlock with corresponding projections or recesses either in thebase-plate of the adjacent tile or the composition or facing materialsecured thereto.

My present invention, however, differs widely from these to which I'havereferred; and it consists in a novel construction of tile members havingapertures or openings therethrough in which the upwardly-extendingportions of the locking member are adapted to be seated.

It further consists of a novel construction of a locking member having aplurality of upwardly projecting portions which are adapted to be seatedin the openings in different tiles, the top of these projections orstuds being preferably flush with the upper surface of the tile. Thetiles are recessed on their lower faces contiguous with the openings inthe tiles, and in these recesses the base-plate of the locking member isadapted to be seated, so that when the parts are in assembled positionboth the upper and lower faces of the floor form substantially plainsurfaces.

It further consists of a novel construction of apertures having aplurality of inclined walls which form tooth-like projections or aresuitably serrated, the upwardly-extending portions of the locking memberbeing adapted to closely engage these walls and prevent any impropermovement of the tiles with respect to said locking member,

It further consists of placing in the tile studs of iron, steel, or anysuitable wear-resistant materiahthese studs, as seen in Fig. 7, beingpreferably substantially flush with the upper and lower surfaces of thetile.

' To the above ends my invention consists, broadly, of a novelconstruction of tiles and a novel construction of a locking member bythe employment of which the life ofthe tiles I is greatly prolonged,owing to the even wear to which they are subjected, and in addition thedifferent tiles are held in suitable relation to, each other even whenthey are nearly worn through. The cost of the flooring is reduced to aminimum,since the tiles themselves may be very readily and cheaplymanufactured and may be made of any suitable or desirable material, andsince in practice the locking member and the upwardly-projectingportions thereof, which when the parts are in assembled position aresubstantially flush with the upper surface of the tiles, are preferablymade of iron, steel, or other suitable wear-resisting material, the lifeof the tiles themselves will be prolonged thereby, and, further, thereis no liability of the difierent tiles buckling, pulling apart, orbecoming separated.

It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as willbe hereinafter fully set forth.

Figure 1 represents a plan view of a construction embodying myinvention. 2 represents a section on line :1; as, Fig. 1. Fig. 3represents a perspective view of the locking member. Fig. 4 represents aplan view of a construction embodying my invention, the tiles beingshown as having a different shape. Fig. 5 represents a plan view of Fig.4, showing a modified arrangement of tiles. Fig. 6 represents a planview of another embodiment of my invention, showing a portion of twotiles interlocked and having wearresist ing material inserted therein.Fig. 7 represents a section on line y y, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 represents aperspective view of another embodiment of a locking member which may beemployed, if desired.

therein, as seen at 3 in Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in thefigures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a tile, the same being shown inthe present instance as having a hexagonal form, although it will beapparent that the contour or shape of the tile employed is immaterial.

2 designates openings extending through the tile 1, the walls of saidopenings when the parts are in assembled position being serrated orhaving annular grooves or nicks The tile on its under side is suitablyrecessed, this recess, as seen at 4, extending from the bottom of thisopening to the side contiguous thereto.

5 designates a locking member, which in the present instance comprises abar or baseplate 6, having at each end locking members 7, extendingangularly therefrom, each of said members being provided with aplurality of flanges or projections S, which when the parts are inassembled position closely engage the walls of the openings 2, so thatthere is no possibility of the tiles becoming separated or buckling,which has heretofore been one of the most serious objections againsttile flooring. The connecting-bar or base-plate 6 when the parts areassembled closely engages the recess 4, and the bottom of thisconnecting member 6 is flush with the bottom surface of the tiles 1,while the top of the locking members 7 are flush with the up per surfaceof the tiles.

In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown the tiles 9 ashaving four sides and a locking member employed to secure the tilestogether similar to the one already described, it being apparent thatthe contour or the number of sides given to the tiles may be variedaccording to the conditions and re quirements of the case and the resultwhich it is desired to obtain, since it is only essential that the tileshave an opening therethrough, such as that seen in Fig. 2, and that thetiles be recessed, as at 4, so that the novel construction of lockingmember, such as 5, may be seated in said recess and the opening of anadjacent or contiguous tile. The-locking member 5 is preferably made ofiron, steel, or some wear-resistant material, and the tiles themselvesmay be composed of rubber, composition, or any suitable material, andsince the upper face of the projections 7 of the locking member 5 areflush with the upper surface of the tiles the latter will wear evenlyand will be securely fastened with respect to each other until they arealmost worn through.

It will be apparent that if the tiles themselves are made of acomposition which has a smaller amount of wear-resistant qualities thanthe members 7 said members will serve to preserve the life of thecomposition, as the members 7 will be worn down in conjunction with thetiles themselves.

In the embodiment seen in Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown two tiles 10 and11, the tile 10 having a suitable recess therein in which the tongue 12,extending from the tile 11, is adapted to be seated. 13 designatesapertures through the different tiles at suitable points therein, saidapertures having therein studs or blocks 14, of steel, iron, or anysuitable wear-resistant material, said studs being preferably flush withthe upper and lower surfaces of the tiles, although this is notessentialunder all conditions.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a locking member 15, having the connecting-bar16, from which extends angular studs or lugs 17, the peripheries ofwhich form a substantially plane surface, and when the locking member 15is in assembled position and the lug 17 seated in the aperture ofadjacent tiles the top of these locking-studs 17 would be preferablysubstlantially flush with the upper surfaces'of the ti es.

In tiles for floors or walls as heretofore constructed there have beenseveral serious objections, chief of which are the cost of completedfloor and the liability of its buckling or bending under the strain ofconstant use either owing to the wear and tear on th( material or toatmospheric or climatic conditions. It will be apparent that by the useof my present construction there is no possibility of the tiles drawingapart either in a vertical or a longitudinal direction. and the lookingmember will at all times strongly engage the tiles. It will also beapparent that if the walls of the apertures through the tiles form asubstantially plane surface when the studs 7, having flanges orprojections 8 thereon, such as is shown on the locking member, areforced into said apertures these projections or serrations will closelyengage the walls of the apertures, and if the material is composed of ayielding or resilient composition or substance these flanges or booklikeprojections will be forced into the tiles themselves, so that there willbe no danger of the locking member being disengaged from the tiles. Ihave found it advantageous under certain conditions to employinterlocking tiles, such as is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, said tiles havingextending thereinto or therethrough any suitable wear-resistantmaterial, such as 14, so that these blocks 14 will take up the wear onthe tiles in a similar manner to the blocks 7 and 17 of the lockingmembers 5 and 15, and although in the present instance I have shownthese blocks of wear-resistant materialas being placed near the sides ofthe tile it is apparent that these may be located as desired throughoutthe tile, and the number of these blocks may be increased or diminishedaccording to the result which it is desired to attain. It will befurther apparent that in both forms of locking members which I haveshown the tiles will be secured in proper IGlfilJlOl] to each other inthe same manner; but under certain conditions and in conjunction withtiles made of certain material it is advantageous to employ flanges orprojections on the lockingstuds, such as is shown in Fig. 3. hile I havespoken of th e locking members and the blocks 14 as being composed ofwear-resistant material, it is to be understood that this wear-resistantmaterial may be composed of any substance or material which is harderthan the composition or material of which the tiles themselves arecomposed. It will be further apparent that a flooring constructed oftiles and locking members as herein shown and described may be veryreadily and cheaply assembled and placed in position.

I have shown in the present instance the locking studs and blocks orother pieces of wear-resistant material as being cylindrical in form;but it is to be understood that these blocks and studs may be of anysuitable shape or form and still be within the scope of my invention,and, further, that in some cases instead of employing blocks ofwearresistant material inserted in the body por tion of the tile strips,pins, posts, or other forms of this material may be used, and I do not,therefore, desire to be limited to the shape which I have herein shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A tile for flooring and the like, of a shape adapted to coincideedgewise when assembled in series, having an aperture extending throughthe body portion thereof in the direction of its thickness, a filling insaid aperture of a harder material than the body portion of the tile,and withmeans integral therewith adapted to interlock a body of suchtiles in series.

2. A tile for flooring and the like, adapted to coincide edgewise whenassembled in series, and having an aperture extending through the bodyportion thereof in the direction of its thickness, in combination withmeans to interlock a body of such tiles in series, said means consistingof a bar having angularly-disposed studs adapted to engage and fill saidapertures in adjacent tiles, whereby the upper end of each stud operatesto provide a tread surface substantially flush with the tread-surface ofthe tile.

3. In a device of the character described, tiles having aperturestherethrough, the walls of said apertures being serrated, and a lockingmember having projections thereon adapted to be seated in apertures ofdifferent tiles, the upper end of said locking member beingsubstantially flush with the upper sur' face of the tiles.

e 4. A tile for flooring and the like adapted disposed studs at each endthereof adapted to engage said transverse recesses in adjacent tiles.

5. In a device of the character described, tiles having aperturestherethrough, and a recess extending from each aperture to the sidenearest thereto, a locking member, comprising a bar adapted to be seatedin said recess'and having studs extending angularly therefrom, saidstuds engaging said apertures and the upper face of said studs beingsubstantially flush with the upper surface of the tiles.

6. In a device of the character described, tiles having aperturestherethrough, and a recess extending from each aperture to the sidenearest thereto, a locking member comprising a bar adapted to be seatedin said recess and having studs extending angularly therefrom, saidstuds engaging said apertures and the upper face of said studs beingsubstantially flush with the upper surface of the tiles and means onsaid studs for preventing their disengagement with the tiles coactingtherewith.

7... A tile for flooring, adapted to be assembled edgewise in series,provided with a plurality of vertical openings extending through thebody of the tile, in combination with a metallic locking member havingva plurality of upright studs adapted to fill said openings in the tileand operating as well to bind together adjacent tiles as to provide awear-resisting surface flush with the treadsurface of the tile.

8. As a new article of-manufacture, a flooring composed of a series oftiles, coinciding edgewise, each tile having an aperture extendingthrough the body portion in the direction of its thickness, with meansto simultaneously interlock the several tiles in the series and toresist wear of the tread-surface thereof, said means consisting of aseries of locking members, each comprising a bar having a plurality ofstuds extending angularly therefrom and adapted to engage and fill therespective apertures in the adjacent tiles and form a flushtread-surface.

LOGAN WILLARD MULFORD.

Witnesses JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, E. HAYWARD FAIRBANKS.

